It's important that you work with a diabetes doctor that you are comfortable with and whom you can trust. Remember that treating and managing diabetes can be a lifelong endeavor and you will need all the proper care and information in order to help keep you as healthy as possible. To find the right diabetic's doctor who will be the perfect fit for your needs, here are some things that you should keep in mind:
The most important choice you should make when you're looking for a diabetes doctor is your primary care physician or PCP. This is the person who will be overseeing your health care and making requests for your tests and treatments. He or she will be responsible for making recommendations about preventive care and will also be the first health care professional who will be providing you with answers regarding your concerns and inquiries.

Your PCP could be any one of these health care professionals, provided they hold a board certification and relevant credentials:
Family Practice or General Physician. She takes care of the overall health of patients; may or may not have experience dealing with certain diseases or conditions including diabetes.
Internist. She takes care of adult diseases and illnesses; may have specializations in any disorder in the heart, blood, lung, kidneys, etc.

Can also provide general care.
Pediatrician. This is the PCP of choice if the patient is a child or teenager.
Geriatrician. She provides health care for older adults, either for general care or for internal medicine.
Obstetrician/Gynecologist. This is a specialist in women's health.

Know Your Health Care Team
Diabetes may require specialized care, depending on your condition. Your PCP may refer you to another health care provider or you may opt to work with your PCP to add people to your team. This is often the case when there are changes in your health care needs.

Know What to Ask your Diabetes Doctor
When you're looking for a diabetes doctor, it's perfectly polite and normal to get in touch with a few before making your choice. During your selection process, you can also get in touch with them through the phone for an interview.

During your first visit, make sure to inform your doctor about the details of your lifestyle and health history. You might also ask if he has training or experience in treating patients with diabetes and if he does, ask how many patients of his are diagnosed with the disease. You can also ask if he can refer other health care professionals in case you will need a health care team. Your first visit is also a good time to tell your doctor about your fears and concerns. If you have health insurance coverage, it's only practical that you first check with your insurance company about which doctors are covered by your medical insurance plan. If you're employed, check with your Human Resources or employee's benefits department. This is an often overlooked area in health insurance because many of today's insurance plans limit the choice of doctors and most beneficiaries fail to check this information beforehand.
If your choice of diabetes doctors is limited, you will have to consider only those on the list the insurance company provides. Your primary care physician will then refer you to other specialists and health care providers who can provide you with the right kind of care. This way, you will still be covered by your insurance policy.

If your insurance plan does not limit your choice of diabetes doctor, you can search for your own physician through referrals from family, friends and colleagues. You can also get in touch with local medical societies and associations or check the Yellow Pages. If you want to check your diabetes doctor's credentials, you can do so at the American Medical Association website at ama-assn.org. To learn about his or her board certification, you can go the American Board of Medical Specialties website at certifieddoctor.org.

By Beverleigh H Piepers

Beta cells of the pancreas are responsible for the secretion of insulin, the hormone that facilitates the transport of energy-producing glucose into the body's cells. In Type 2 diabetes, dysfunction of these insulin-producing cells combined with a decrease in the insulin response of individual cells, results in increased blood sugar levels. The progression of beta-cell dysfunction associated with increased insulin resistance, is the usual indication for the use of oral anti-diabetic medications. With effective oral anti-diabetic medication, hyperglycemia or high blood sugar levels can be corrected.

When are oral anti-diabetes medication indicated?

According to APC Diabetes Care Guideoral anti-diabetic medication should be initiated if:

* the fasting blood sugar level remains above 126mg/dL (7mmol/L), or
* the Hemoglobin A1c, (HbA1c), the average concentration within the red blood cells, remains above 7%

four to six weeks after appropriate lifestyle modifications, such as dietary changes and an increase in physical activity have been in effect.

What are the available oral anti-diabetic medications?

1. Insulin secretagogues a group of oral medications that stimulate the beta cells of the pancreas to secrete more insulin. They also decrease sugar production by the liver and enhance the burning of sugar into usable energy forms by individual muscle fibers. Insulin secretagogues can further be subdivided into subclasses:

* a) Sulfonylureas stimulate the secretion of insulin by the pancreas. The most common examples of this subgroup include tolbutamide, tolazamide, chloropropamide, glyburide, glypizide and glimeperide
* b) Nonsulfonylurea secretagogues are very useful in diabetics with irregular meal times because of its ability to bring about rapid stimulation of the pancreas to secrete insulin. The most common examples of this subgroup include repaglinide and nateglinide

2. Insulin sensitizers enhance the action of insulin in the body. This type of medications can further be divided into subgroups which may include:

* a) Biguanides. Metformin is the most known form of biguanides. It inhibits the production of sugar by the liver and at the same time, increases the sensitivity of the muscles and fat to insulin stimulation

* b) Thiazolidinediones (TZD) are a group of anti-diabetic medications that increase the insulin sensitivity of muscle fibers and fats.The most common examples of this group include the rosiglitazone (Avandia) and poiglitazone (Actos)

* c) Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors actively inhibits the absorption of carbohydrates in the intestines by blocking the enzyme that facilitates the absorption of carbohydrates. One of the most common problems associated with this kind of anti-diabetic medication is the development of abdominal problems such as cramps, bloatedness, flatulence and sometimes gross diarrhea. The most common examples of alpha-glucosidase inhibitor include acarbose and miglitol

* d) Dipeptidyl peptidase IV increases the secretion of insulin by inhibiting the enzymes that degrades incretin, a special hormone that trigger the secretion of insulin. The most known example of dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors is sitagliptin

Although many people find they can bring their blood sugar back into the normal range by making changes to their eating plan, doctors often assume that dietary changes will not solve their Type 2 diabetic patient's blood sugar problems and prescribe one or more of the above drugs. These drugs have limited power to lower blood sugar levels back into the normal range. Dietary control is still needed to bring your blood sugar back to the normal range.

What do you mean by diabetes
Diabetes occurred due certain metabolic disorder and mal functioning of the pancreas, which leads towards excessive urination, thirst, weakness and restlessness. The Diabetes can be divided into two categories Diabetes mellitus and Diabetes insipidus.

Diabetes mellitus (type one):
In diabetes mellitus body unable to make insulin. Insulin helps the body to convert the sugar from the body into energy source. The patient is insulin dependent. Type one diabetes is very prevalent among young children, young and adults.

Diabetes insipdus (type two):
Diabetes insipdus results due to insulin defective in insulin production and tissues resist to insulin production. In type-2 diabetes, daily supplement of insulin is not necessary. Controlling diet and doing moderate physical exercises can control type two diabetes.

Diabetes cannot be cured permanently but it can be controlled to great extend.
Causes of diabetes: Excessive eating containing sugar, obesity, lack of exercise, tension and stress and heredity.

Treatment of diabetes with natural products:
People are reluctant and repulsive towards high dose medicines containing different chemicals, which have severe side effects like head reeling, shivering, tiredness, dizziness and skin allergy. So it is better to opt natural treatment using natural products for the treatment of diabetes, which is safe and free from any side effects. Natural products are cheaper and easily available.

Some herbs are highly recommended for the treatment of the diabetes. Important Diabetic Natural Remedy Considerations:
1. Consumption of sugar in large quantity for long time may lead to blood sugar level complications
2. Don’t take fatty food, must take fruits and vegetables containing fiber. Fiber reduces blood sugar levels.
3. Avoid direct sugar intake (sugars found in raw fruits or whole grains react on the body differently)
4. White flour based food products increases the chances of diabetes and it will increase the blood sugar level. Avoid taking these foods.
5. Diabetes must be checked up regularly, especially the blood sugar level or it can be dangerous and fatal if it is ignored.

Gymnema: Improves insulin levels in the body. It controls and destroys sugar-craving habits of a patient. This herb also helps in lowering blood sugar level.
Fenugreek: Helps in glucose tolerance and breaking the glucose and excrete through urination. Keeps blood sugar level balanced and stable.
Cayenne: works as health tonic and tones blood circulation.
Kidney Beans: Helps in detoxifying the pancreases.

There are some herbal diabetic supplement, diabetic vitamins such as Chromium GTF tablets and Chromium Picolinate capsules to control diabetes. Other sugar control supplements are SLIM 3, chromium and niacin, chromium picolate, liver and gall formula, multi vitamins, and food powders exclusively based on natural herbs.

Treatment of diabetes through Homeopathic Medicines
Homeopathy medicines are also very effective for the treatment of diabetes.
Uranium Nitrate: this remedy helps in reducing sugar level in the blood and helps in digestion and decreasing sugar in the urine.
Syzygium jambolanum: It is a remedy helps in decreasing sugar in urine if it is taken in lower dose.
Phosphoric acid: It helps the patient having diabetes due to nervous origin. It is a great remedy to cure diabetes mellitus when it is rudimentary stage.
Lactic acid: one of the best remedies for diabetes due to gastric origin. The symptoms are frequent urine; urine is yellow, much thirst, nausea and debility, dry skin, much gas in stomach and dry tongue. Acetic acid: it helps to reduce frequent urination and it also abates severe thirst and dry skin.
Bryonia: If symptoms like bitterness in the taste , dryness of the lips and weakness then Bryonia is first remedy to be remembered
There are other remedies such as Chionanthus and Argentum mettalicium good for the treatment of diabetes.

Diabetes can be controlled and a patient can lead normal life if he takes care of himself by adopting right treatment.

By Moira Haarhoff

High-sugar foods are all around us, not only in sweets and desserts. It's important to fully understand the labels found on containers and to have a jolly good idea of what goes into the foods and flavourings you have learned, over years, to love. This is where some knowledge of cooking and recipes can help.

Most zero-rated soft drinks still contain caramel and caramel is made from sugar. A carrot salad from your favourite deli is also likely to contain caramel. Marinades and bastes for meat and fish contain huge quantities of sugar or honey, as do all sauces (including ketchup) and pickles. Diet mayonnaise and salad dressings may be low in fat, but probably contain more sugar than regular ones.

Your best choices of flavouring are vinegar or lemon juice and olive oil mixed judiciously with herbs and spices. Boring? Not necessarily. Experiment with ginger, garlic, cinnamon, cardamom and various finely-chopped fresh herbs.

Sprinkle an assortment of seeds over soups and salads to add crunch, various flavours and satisfaction. Texture can often supplement taste and is the reason why different salads can be more filling than we expect.

Beware of fruit juice, which effectively carries virtually as much sugar as a cola. Long-life juices are often mixed with grape juice, a high GI fruit. One sparkling 'tiser carries the juice of several pieces of fruit and should therefore count for just about all your daily fruit and vegetable allowance!

And without the fruit's natural roughage, juices metabolise very quickly. If you cannot live without fruit juice, it is best diluted 50/50 with water and sipped slowly over several hours.

Keeping your vegetable intake higher than your fruit intake is also sensible. Sticking mainly to low GI fruit (deciduous and citrus) should also reduce your sugar levels somewhat. It is worth learning something about high- and low-GI foods to help you make good decisions.

Most adults who become diabetic find it difficult to avoid alcohol, believing that in moderation it has therapeutic value. Our society though, revolves around drinking before meals. Alcohol metabolises very quickly on an empty stomach and the best choice is not to imbibe before eating.

A few nuts or a slice of cheese half-an-hour before your sun-downer can help to keep sugar levels more stable, but your best choice is not to drink until you can enjoy a single glass of red wine with your meal.

Many diabetics find they crave sweet things (and particularly chocolate) more than ever before. If you absolutely cannot resist, choose milk- or egg-based desserts that help your body metabolise the sugar more slowly. Fruit salad and custard is a wiser choice than icings or jellied baked goods, for instance.

But the more sugar you eat, the more you crave, so avoiding it altogether generally makes life easier. High-sugar foods can ruin an otherwise perfectly good eating plan, so steer clear.

The cost of diabetes to Americans is two-fold. There is a the actual cost of the disease in money – as in supplies bought, health dollars spent, and even commerce lost because of the debilitating nature of the disease. What is the cost of diabetes on the typical American lifestyle? If the disease is not managed correctly, the cost can be tremendous. One of the biggest factors contributing to diabetes is obesity, and obesity is the fastest growing health epidemic in America today. Exercise is the number one method to prevent obesity and diabetes, along with a healthy diet and lifestyle in general. There are also some oral medications that can help prevent the onset of the disease to those with risk factors or a “pre-diabetic” condition.
Complications from diabetes include symptoms of low or high blood sugar, such as dizziness, sweating, weakness, shakiness and nausea. If blood sugar falls too low, those affected can faint or even go into a coma from low blood sugar. The long term complications from uncontrolled or poorly controlled diabetes include nerve damage and kidney damage, damage to the eyes, cardio-vascular disease, Alzheimer’s, and a much higher risk of infection from simple illnesses and wounds being unable to heal.

The monetary cost for diabetic supplies can also be tremendous. Testing for blood sugar levels can cost up to $0.81 per test, and for those who have to test their sugar levels up to 6 times a day, this can add up very quickly. Costs can also skyrocket when diabetes is uncontrolled or poorly controlled simply because the medical expenses from kidney problems, eye damage, cardio-vascular damage and more be tremendous.

Fortunately there are many programs out there that can help diabetics to get their testing supplies for free or at a much lower cost, even if they are currently insured or on government assistance programs like Medic-aide and Medicare. Most of these programs will work directly with the insurance company to figure out the lowest-cost avenue for the patient, and to present these options to the patient in an easy to understand and helpful manner.

By Dr. Narendra Punjabi, M.D.

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic afflictions, affecting over 28 million Americans and 171 million people worldwide. Diabetes is an enduring condition in which the pancreas fails to produce a hormone, insulin, which is responsible for carrying digested sugars from food to other cells. Due to the absence or insufficient production of insulin, body cells don't get the required glucose for producing ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate). ATP is an enzyme that allows cells to obtain and use energy.

Diabetes is usually of two types: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 occurs as a result of an autoimmune response to a viral attack on the pancreas. Type 2 occurs when people consume high amounts of sugar, carbohydrates, and animal products causing fat reserves of the body to metabolize. In both types of diabetes, signs and symptoms are likely to be similar, resulting in high blood sugar due to defective insulin metabolism.

Type 1 & 2 Diabetes: Similar Symptoms

Frequent urination - Due to excess glucose in the body, frequent urination occurs. As a result, you feel dehydrated.

Excessive thirst - When the concentration of glucose increases in the blood, our brain receives signals for diluting it, and as a result we feel thirsty.

Extreme hunger - When sugar levels increase in our blood, our body produces insulin, which is known to stimulate hunger.

Unusual weight loss or gain - Due to increased urination, metabolism of fat and protein your body may cause you to lose weight. Conversely, you may gain weight due to an increase in your appetite.

Increased fatigue - Due to decreased production of insulin, instead of glucose, your bodies' fat reserves are metabolized to gain energy. More energy is consumed when fat is metabolized compared to glucose. As a result of this negative calorie effect, you feel fatigued.

Irritability - You feels tired and restless when your brain receives insufficient glucose.

Blurry vision- Your vision becomes blurry when body fluid is pulled out of tissues, including lenses of the eyes.

In addition to the above symptoms, a person suffering from diabetes can also suffer from swollen and tender gums, and their cuts or wounds heal slowly. Since the symptoms of diabetes can be difficult to identify, it often goes undiagnosed. It is better to get a checkup by a doctor if you have any of the above symptoms. Even though the symptoms may differ from person to person, the two symptoms that occur in most people are increased thirst and frequent urination. Diabetes may prove to be fatal if not diagnosed and treated on time. However, it is very easily controlled through diet control and medication.

Diabetes mellitus is a group of diseases sharing the common characteristic of high blood sugar levels. Diabetes happens when the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin or when the insulin that is produced in the pancreas cannot work adequately. When diabetes is not well controlled, it can cause serious complications and premature death.

I ask health professional all the time about people coming in to have routine health checks just to learn to their surprise they have Type I or II diabetes. Thirty year old Tom was admitted for sores all over his body for simply walking all day at Disneyland with his family. There are nearly 21 million people in the United States alone that have diabetes; most of them type 2.

This represents about 7 percent of the population and more than 6 million of these people do not know they have the condition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in addition reports that another 41 million people are estimated to have pre-diabetes, a condition that is developed before type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. In 2005 alone 1.5 million people aged 20 years or older were newly diagnosed with diabetes.

Most people who get diabetes are told by their doctor to start taking diabetes pills or medications and go on a diet. The doctor hands them a diet to follow, they try it out, then can't get motivated and when hungry calls go out and have some pizza and beer.

What people are often not told is that diabetes is a leading cause of adult blindness, lower-limb amputation, kidney disease and nerve damage. Most people getting diabetes are in the 40s, 50s and upwards. But in today’s fast food society young children and adults even in their teens and early 20s and 30s have it or are going to end up with this deadly quite killer disease.

I tell people that there is no cure or magic diet pill that will save them from getting this disease for which there is no known cure for. There are only a few easy ways treat diabetes through education from doctors or other professionals in the know which will tell you to control high blood pressure, reduce cholesterol levels and quit smoking. These key factors alone will help reduce the risk for developing diabetes.

By Beverleigh H Piepers

The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey conducted in 1996 discovered that diabetics are 1.6 times more likely to use complementary anti-diabetic medications compared to their non-diabetic counterparts. In another national survey conducted from 1997 to 1998, it was shown that thirty-five percent of Type 2 diabetics used supplements to treat their condition.

With a growing number of diabetic supplement users, there are several questions that keep nagging the minds of the health care professionals and even diabetics themselves:

* are supplements able to affect blood sugar levels?
* do supplements taken in conjunction with anti-diabetic medications cause drug interactions?
* are herbal supplements safe for diabetic conditions

1. Niacin, also called nicotinic acid or nicotinate, is a common form of vitamin B3. The body uses this vitamin in the production of various sex hormones, and stress-related hormones in the adrenal glands, the gland located on the upper part of each kidney. Furthermore, it has also been shown to have significant uses in many medical conditions such as high cholesterol level, atherosclerosis... the hardening of the blood vessel walls, and osteoarthritis. However, there is one problem with the use of niacin by diabetics. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that niacin has the ability to raise the blood sugar level resulting in the development of hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia may cause an array of consequences: conditions such as increased frequency and excessive urination (polyuria), and excessive thirst and urge to drink large amounts of fluids to replace the water lost through excessive urination.

However, in worse cases, hyperglycemia may result in dizziness, nausea and vomiting, coma and even death.

2. Aloe is another natural supplement which may be taken for a number of conditions; aloe vera can help relieve indigestion, constipation, bladder infections, itchy skin, psoriasis and ulcerative colitis. However, as mentioned by Medline Plus, aloe supplementation may also cause hypoglycemia or low blood sugar levels. Anyone taking anti-diabetic medications must be extra cautious in the use of aloes since this may cause some additive hypoglycemic effect to their medication resulting in the development of overwhelming hypoglycemia. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include:

* tremors
* anxiety, and
* cold clammy skin

In the worst cases, it may result in coma.

3. American Ginseng is a herb usually used by both Type 2 diabetics and non-diabetics to help remove stress and boost the immune system. According to Medline Plus, this herbal supplement may be helpful in lowering blood sugar levels after meals in Type 2 diabetes. However, there is a special precaution with the use of American ginseng: adding this herbal supplement to the usual anti-diabetic medications may lower the blood sugar too much resulting in hypoglycemia.

Vitamins and minerals are essential for good health, but in excess some of them can do a lot of damage.

Dietary considerations can present a Hobson’s choice in diabetes. Excess carbohydrates in a meal, and the resulting uncontrolled blood sugar levels can be detrimental to any number of tissues, from the lens of the eye, to the neurons, small blood vessels and the kidneys. Fat is also a problem with increase incidences of atherosclerosis, large vessel disease and cardiac complications. Enough medical literature exists to suggest that in diabetes, proteins are probably the best bet.

Proteins are the natural choice of the body when faced with diabetes. In uncontrolled diabetes, muscle protein is broken down into amino acids to be converted into glucose by the liver. Since proteins have to supply enough energy to substitute for carbohydrates, proteins are broken down faster than they are made. The body ends up with a protein deficit, a situation with subtle, yet far-reaching effects on normal body functions. Importantly, for diabetics, a protein deficit has been shown to impair resistance to infections (Ganong WF). Replenishing the depleting protein stores is a vital requirement of all diabetic diets.

Importance of proteins in a diabetic has been well documented. The AACE recommends that 10-20% of the calorie intake in diabetes should come from proteins (AACE Diabetes Guidelines). It is in fact believed that this is one nutrient that does not increase blood glucose levels in both diabetics and healthy subjects (Gannon et al).

Nutrition therapy for diabetes has progressed from prevention of obesity or weight gain to improving insulin’s effectiveness and contributing to improved metabolic control (Franz MJ). In this new role, a high protein diet (30% of total food energy) forms a very pertinent part of nutrition therapy. Excess body fat raises insulin resistance and higher levels of insulin are required to bring down blood sugars as the weight increases (Ganong WF). Another problem with excess fat is the clogging of arteries with atherosclerotic plaques that is responsible for a wide range of diabetic complications. Any mechanism that reduces body fat decreases insulin resistance and improves blood glucose control. Parker et al have also shown that a high protein diet decreased abdominal and total fat mass in women with type II diabetes. Other studies by Gannon et al. and Nuttall et al have verified that blood glucose levels and glycosylated hemoglobin (a marker of long term diabetic control) reduce after 5 weeks on a diet containing 30% of the total food energy in the form of proteins and low carbohydrate content. It is speculated that a high protein diet has a favorable effect in diabetes due to the ability of proteins and amino acids to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas. Thus, a high protein diet is not only safe in diabetes, but can also be therapeutic, resulting in improved glycemic control, and decreased risk of complications related to diabetes.

The benefits of a high protein diet do not end here. Individual protein components of such a diet, when aptly chosen, can have other advantages as well. Dietary supplements containing proteins like whey and casein come highly recommended. Casein is a milk protein and has the ability to form a gel or clot in the stomach. A slow sustained release of nutrients matches well with the limited amount of insulin that can be produced by the pancreas in diabetes. A protein supplement containing casein can thus increase the amount of energy assimilated from every meal and, at the same time, reduce the need for pharmacological interventions to control blood sugar.

Whey proteins and caseins also contain “casokinins” and “lactokinins’, (FitzGerald) which have been found to decrease both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive humans (Seppo). In addition, whey protein forms bioactive amine in the gut that promotes immunity. Whey protein contains an ample supply of the amino acid cysteine. Cysteine appears to enhance glutathione levels, which has been shown to have strong antioxidant properties -- antioxidants mop up free radicals that induce cell death and play a role in aging.
Thus, development of a protein supplement containing casein and whey can provide an apt high protein diet and its health benefits to individuals suffering from diabetes, obesity and hypercholesterolemia.

REFERENCES
The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Medical guidelines for the management of diabetes. AACE Diabetes Guidelines, Endocr Pract. 2002; 8(Suppl 1).
Boirie, Y., Dangin, M., Gachon, P., Vasson, M.P., Maubois, J.L. and Beaufrere, B. (1997) Slow and fast dietary proteins differently modulate postprandial protein accretion. Proclamations of National Academy of Sciences 94, 14930-14935.

Counous, G. Whey protein concentrates (WPC) and glutathione modulation in cancer treatment. Anticancer Research 2000; 20, 4785-4792
FitzGerald RJ, Murray BA, Walsh D J. Hypotensive Peptides from Milk Proteins. Franz MJ. Prioritizing diabetes nutrition recommendations based on evidence. Minerva Med. 2004; 95(2):115-23.

Gannon et al An increase in dietary protein improves the blood glucose response in persons with type 2 diabetes. Am J Clin Nutr 2003; 78:734– 41.
Gannon MC, Nuttall J A, Damberg G. Effect of protein ingestion on the glucose appearance rate in people with type II diabetes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 86: 1040–1047, 2001
Ha, E. and Zemel, M.B. Functional properties of whey, whey components, and essential amino acids: mechanisms underlying health benefits for active people. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry 2003; 14, 251-258.

Kent KD, Harper WJ, Bomser JA. Effect of whey protein isolate on intracellular glutathione and oxidant-induced cell death in human prostate epithelial cells. Toxicol in Vitro. Nuttall et al. The Metabolic Response of Subjects with Type II Diabetes to a High-Protein, Weight-Maintenance. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 88: 3577–3583, 2003

Parker et al. Effect of a High-Protein, High–Monounsaturated Fat Weight Loss Diet on glycemic Control and Lipid Levels in Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Care 25:425–430, 2002.

Seppo, L., Jauhiainen, T., Poussa, T. & Korpela, R. () A fermented milk high in bioactive peptides has a blood pressure-lowering effect in hypertensive subjects. Nutr. 2003; 77: 326–330.
Unger RH. Glucagon physiology and pathophysiology.

By Moira Haarhoff

Diabetics are often advised to follow a 'normal' lifestyle, but that does not take into account the reactions they may have to low-blood-sugar episodes, the summer heat, stress and the obvious enemy: sugar.

Also, everyone sees 'normal' differently.

Banishing processed food from the diet is always recommended for diabetics. Their intake should be made up of foods that can be easily identified because they look the way God created them.

Some diabetics strive for a healthy lifestyle, others for moderation in all things and yet more believe they've learnt how to cheat their sugar levels successfully.

In the same way, all react differently to identical circumstances.

Everything we all eat turns to sugar in our bodies and one form of it is not necessarily much better than another for diabetics. The disease is also dynamic rather than static; it evolves over time and what works for some today, may not, tomorrow.

As long as everything seems to be under control, diabetes management seems easy. But when sugar levels begin to fluctuate wildly, they can be very difficult to re-stabilise.

This is when up to seven daily blood glucose tests with a meter daily can help determine where and what changes are advisable, if any. Record all the results you take on a simple table with twelve columns across. Label the first two columns from the left: 'day' and 'time'.

The next three columns will indicate whether you have eaten, exercised and/or medicated before checking your blood-sugar level (ticking the boxes is adequate). In the last seven columns you will note your sugar levels three or more times each day. Do your checks 1.5 hours after eating, except in the case of the first of these columns and the last of them. Label these seven columns (from the left) 'on waking', 'morning', 'mid-morning', 'midday', 'mid-afternoon', 'evening' and 'bedtime'.

This is a particularly useful exercise for your healthcare professional to see if you suspect your medication dosage or diet needs changing. Diarise the readings for the week before seeing him. This could allay the assumption that you need increased doses when the opposite is true, or vice versa.

If you don't usually eat between meals, simply dividing your usual lunch between midday and a small snack during the afternoon could stabilise you. Some diabetics, on the other hand, naturally have high waking sugar levels and benefit from a change in their usual choice of breakfast.

When your sugar levels are satisfyingly stable it can be difficult to lose weight. The only sure way of doing so is to reduce your intake of some foods and bring in others to compensate.

While most dietitians punt complex carbohydrates, the cardiologist who created the South Beach Diet with diabetics in mind, Dr Agatston, advocates replacing some carbohydrates with low GI vegetables, dairy products and eggs.

If this is unchartered territory, ask a dietitian to help you determine what changes to make. Ultimately, recording diabetic sugar levels is the only way to approach any concerns scientifically.

Diabetes that developes during her pregnancy, which is commonly referred to as "gestational diabetes".

Diabetics – those with pre-existing diabetes or those who develop gestational diabetes – often deliver larger babies. This is a result of the additional sugar, being produced by the mother, being passed through the umbilical cord into the blood stream of the baby where insulin then converts it into fat.

Pre-existing Diabetes
As long as diabetes is properly controlled there is no reason why a woman with diabetes can not have an uncomplicated pregnancy. It is when the diabetes is not controlled that problems and complications occur. Complications can lead to problems with the pregnancy, including, miscarriage, premature delivery and stillbirth and can also lead to the women developing high blood pressure.

It is strongly advised that diabetic women begin taking folic acid both before and after conception so as to avoid the baby developing birth defects. Folic acid should be taken all women who are pregnant, and is often included with gestational vitamins prescribed by doctors.

Oral medications that are used to control type 2 diabetes are not approved for use during pregnancy so any woman who is using these drugs will need to switch to insulin before conceiving and during her pregnancy.

Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is diabetes that develops during pregnancy. Changing hormones and weight gain makes it hard for the body to keep up with the need of insulin. Why does gestational diabetes occur? The placenta produces a hormone that goes against the affect of insulin on blood sugar. Women who have a history of diabetes in the family are also more sensitive to this hormone. Mothers who have experienced gestational diabetes should research and be aware of what the symptoms of Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes are and be aware of the steps to take to avoid or delay this disease.

About 200,000 women develop gestational diabetes each year in the United States. The statistics are that five to ten percent of women will continue with Type 2 diabetes after the birth of the baby. Twenty to fifty percent may develop Type 2 diabetes later in life. Children of mothers with gestational diabetes are more at risk for obesity and developing diabetes as teens or adults.

Studies show that it is possible to reduce the risks by watching their diet. In fact, women who went on to control their weight, increase their exercise, and watch their diet and as a result had a 58 percent decrease in their risk for developing diabetes.

Women in the 26-28 weeks of pregnancy are routinely checked for blood glucose levels. If a woman does develop gestational diabetes and it is not treated or controlled it may lead to difficulties and problems including, delayed maturity level, stillbirth, and poor placenta function.

Women who are already overweight when becoming pregnant, or had gestational diabetes during a previous pregnancy, have a greater chance of developing gestational diabetes.
Other potential risk causes come from race, nationality, and cultural differences. The women found to be at a higher risk are American Indians, Asian Americans, African-Americans, Pacific islanders, and Hispanics.

If you are pregnant your diet is important as is exercise, both for your health and the health of your baby.
Drinking plenty of water, with a diet high in fiber and low fats are necessary for a healthy diet. Refined sugar should be cut out if possible, if not, cut out as much as possible. Watch your fat intake also. Eat plenty of fresh vegetables and low fat proteins. Also don't forget to be taking a pre-natal vitamin.
Low impact exercising, yoga, or water aerobics are choices for those women who are not on a regular exercise program.
Also those women who do develop gestational diabetes have a much greater chance of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

By Aurther Shoko

Blood glucose measurement is an integral part of diabetes care and prevention. This requires that measurements be taken on a regular basis which can also be used by a health care professional. Today the market is filled with a variety of blood monitors which one can purchase off the internet. This is similar to blood pressure monitors used in hypertension care.

Unlike blood pressure monitors, blood glucose meters do not necessarily produce a similar standardized reading. Blood glucose meters come calibrated differently. To begin with blood glucose can be measured using whole blood or plasma. This means a meter can be calibrated to measure plasma or whole blood. Plasma is a part of the whole blood. The two have different numerical readings which however can be interpreted to mean one and the same thing by a knowledgeable person. This is were the confusion sets in.

Confusing blood glucose measurements often occur when patients purchase a new meter different from the old one. Often there is an expectation of similar readings and results. However, this is not always the case. This is because the new meter may be calibrated differently. Even though most blood meters are calibrated for whole blood measurements, there are also others that give readings using plasma levels which is only a part of whole blood.

The other concern that blood meter users have is the difference between lab results and results that are produced by their personal meter. This causes readings from the doctor's office to vary from those done at home by the patient. Again the answer lies in the fact that lab measurements are based on plasma part of the blood which excludes whole blood. On the other hand as mentioned before most home meters are whole blood calibrated. These samples which are different causes home meters to produce 12% lower results compared to plasma results from the lab.

It is possible to compare your white blood calibrated meter with plasma calibrated lab results. This is achieved by converting the lab results to be a white blood calibrated results. It is mathematically done by dividing the lab result with 1.12. Overall and as a rule, home blood meters are considered to have a clinically accurate result if the measurement falls within +/-20% of a reference result such as a lab test. To avoid the trouble of having to convert your results meet plasma readings, it is best to purchase a plasma calibrated blood meter.

Diabetes can be difficult to understand unless you first learn about the way your body functions. As you begin to understand how the body fuels itself and how the digestive system works, you can realize that when one of the many parts of this system breaks down, there can be major problems.

Digestion is the process of our body breaking down the food we consume into usable nutritive substances. There are three main categories of these substances in the food we eat. Vegetable oils, cheese, some dairy products and meat contain fat. Our protein is found in meat, eggs, fish and dairy products. Starches and sugars are found in pasta, fruits, vegetables, bread and grains and this is the way we ingest carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates are broken down by the digestive process and turned into glucose or blood sugar. The things we do that require energy, such as walking, running or other aerobic exercises, all rely on carbohydrates to give us the energy to do them. Insulin is the substance that our bodies use to absorb the blood sugar into our cells. Our insulin and other digestive enzymes are provided for our bodies by the pancreas which is close to our stomach. Alcohol abuse and various diseases can cause our pancreas to stop working properly and sometimes it may be necessary to remove it surgically.

If a person is diabetic, either their cells have become insulin resistant, or their body may not be producing enough insulin. This causes the body to urinate frequently in order to try and eliminate the excess blood sugar. Proper diabetes treatment is absolutely necessary to avoid dangerous complications. A lot of people who suffer from Type 2 diabetes get one of a variety of those complications.

Diabetes results from an inability of our body to regulate blood sugar in our system. Insulin is produced by the pancreas and is the necessary key to let our liver, fat cells and muscles absorb glucose which is needed to produce fuel for energy. The glucose may cause great harm to tissues and organs if it does not move into our cells and continues to maintain a high blood sugar level.

Type 1 diabetes is what you have if your body does not produce enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels at the right amount. In the United States, Type 1 diabetes, (also called diabetes mellitus), is what approximately ten percent of all diabetics have. This is normally discovered when people are children or young teens and can also be called juvenile onset diabetes. If your pancreas is made useless by some type of illness or taken out surgically, then type 1 diabetes can happen to an adult. This type of diabetic must have insulin daily in order to stay alive.

Type 2 diabetes is the type that the other 90 percent of diabetics have. This is usually diagnosed in adults who are 45 years of age or older but it may be found in younger people as well. This type is when the body has become insulin resistant for some reason and it may be able to be controlled through diet, exercise, weight loss or some medication taken orally. Some people may not even be aware that they have this disease. Great harm to the tissues or organs of the body may be done before they even realize that they have diabetes. Contact your physician if you are urinating more frequently, have increased thirst or a sudden gain or loss of weight, all of which are diabetes symptoms.

By Aurther Shoko

Diabetes just like high blood pressure and heart disease is a chronic disease that affects millions of people all across the globe. In fact millions more people are living with diabetes without knowing it. When left unchecked diabetes can even cause loss of sight, limp loss through amputations and may cause other existing diseases to deteriorate rapidly such as high blood pressure, heart disease and even kidney disease. The following are some questions often asked about glucose and diabetes;

What Is Glucose Monitoring?

Glucose monitoring involves a keeping watch of the levels of blood glucose. This prevents a diabetic condition from deteriorating any further. It helps diabetes patients to be in control of a diabetic condition. Results of a glucose monitoring will inform what food one eats, the activities they engage in and the medications they need to take. Using a blood meter a patient pricks the tip of a finger with a special device to obtain a blood sample which the meter uses to interpret blood sugar levels.

What Is Whole Blood and Plasma Calibration?

This is a simple concept which yet confuses many that is used to define how blood glucose is measured. A blood glucose meter can be calibrated to measure glucose levels in the blood using whole blood or plasma. Plasma is a part of whole blood. Plasma calibrated measurements are often used in labs.

Both whole blood and plasma measurements numerically point to one and the same thing. It is best understood as temperature measurements. temperature can be measured in degrees Celsius or degrees Fahrenheit. Both mean the same thing in as giving us an understanding of the accurate state of the weather.

What Is Continuous Glucose Monitoring?

A fairly new technique, CGM as it is also known in short involves the insertion of a tiny device under the skin to continuously provide glucose levels for days on end and even up to a week. This device sends signals to yet another device that is attached to the belt like a pager of the patient. This does not eliminate the need for a standard meter. The user will still need it to take a sample of their blood in order to program the CGM device.

These are some of the often asked questions about diabetes and glucose. It needs to be remembered that diabetes is a chronic disease which can be managed for a life time. Monitoring and measurement is only but a part. A lot more depends on what a person eats, exercise and so on. Our eating habits will need to change to accommodate a diabetic condition.

In my current job in the health field industry, I have noticed a drastic increase in the number of individuals who have Diabetes. Even more alarming is that children are developing diabetes in greater volumes as well.

Diabetes Mellitus results when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels or when cells in the body don’t respond appropriately to insulin.

People with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (insulin-dependent diabetes) produce little or no insulin at all. In contrast, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (non-insulin-dependent diabetes), the pancreas continues to manufacture insulin, sometimes even at higher than normal levels. However, the body develops resistance to its effects and the sugar in the blood does not enter the cells as well as it should, resulting in higher blood sugar levels. Type 2 Diabetes usually begins after age 30 and becomes progressively more common with age.

Research indicates that overweight people who have Diabetes suffer from a biological imbalance involving insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps your body use and conserve food energy in several ways: insulin tells your body when to eat, Insulin delivers food energy to wherever the body needs it, Insulin also commands the body to save food energy stored in fat cells for a time when no food is available. Many people produce so much insulin that their bodies are unable to absorb it all. This imbalance leads to a cycle in which they experience overpowering cravings for carbohydrates, such as breads, pastas, and snack foods. The more carbohydrates that are consumed, the greater the amount of insulin the body releases. Fortunately carbohydrate addiction and insulin imbalance can be reversed so that you can lose weight and be healthy the rest of your life-without feeling deprived or struggling to manage your eating patterns.

Check out the website in the resource box concerning more on Diabetes and weight loss.
To help reverse Diabetes naturally you must eliminate or reduce sugar, fructose, corn syrup, white bread, and maple sugar. People who regularly drink sugar-sweetened beverages are at a high risk for both Diabetes and Obesity.

Disclaimer
The information provided herein should not be construed as a health-care diagnosis, treatment regimen or any other prescribed health-care advice or instruction. The information is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in the practice of medicine or any other health-care profession and does not enter into a health-care practioner/ patient relationship with its readers. The publisher does not advise or recommend to its readers treatment or action with regard to matters relating to their health or well being other than to suggest that readers consult appropriate health-care professionals in such matters. The publisher isn’t responsible for errors or omissions. The Food and Drug Administration have not evaluated these statements. These products aren’t intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

By Benjamin Hedley

Type 2 diabetes and cranberry fruit juice... why is this important to you? Really there isn't any lack of health-related proof that unsweetened cranberry extract fruit juice is a great way to deal with bacterial infections of the urinary system. Complex polysaccharides present in cranberry fruit juice (as well as in fruit juices of other bog fruits, for example blueberry), layer the liner of the bladder as well as urethra therefore germs can't ever "root" and also the flow urine merely flushes them.

Lots of people with diabetic issues, type one as well as type two, discover once they go for their own yearly or even bi-annual health-related check-up, they have a urinary tract infection. However they had no typical indicators including:

- Discomfort and burning whenever urinating

- Rate of recurrence of urination and only passing small amounts

- Cloudy pee... occasionally blood is present

- Sensation usually "bad" all over... exhausted, unstable and beaten up

When you've got a fever this suggests the problem has reached your renal system... generally there isn't any fever once the infection is in your bladder or even urethra.

As you can tell, the nature of urinary system bacterial infections is they may continue undetected from lower levels for days, several weeks, or even many years. The actual germs inside your urinary system result in a continuous, low-level of irritation that's not sufficient that you should point out for your healthcare specialist, but it's sufficient to create inflammatory proteins that go around throughout the body.

Out of control blood sugar lead to spillover of blood sugar in to your own urine, and that sugar offers continuous nutrition for germs. The germs may come to be mats and tangles which "hug" the liner of the bladder and urethra so that they do not flow away with your urine which is the reason why they do not get discovered in urine exams. Plus they may generate just enough of the triggers associated with irritation... they inspire the actual "growth" of stomach fat and also solidifying of the arterial blood vessels.

What will help stop low-level vesica bacterial infections?

Cranberry fruit juice keeps germs from developing colonies. A shot cup of cranberry fruit juice at least one time per week might stop in it is tracks any kind of low-level vesica bacterial infections. Just make sure you drink real cranberry fruit juice or even blueberry fruit juice directly, without any additional sugars or artificial sweeteners.

A normal dosage of fruit juice not only will eliminate vesica germs, it might help a person manage both glucose levels and your excess weight. Try a weekly cup of cranberry fruit juice and find out if you cannot detect enhancement in control of your type 2 diabetes.

Do some of your family members have backgrounds of diabetes? Honestly, are you over 40 in age? If you answered these questions with a not-so-proud yes, therefore, you are not immune to having the risk of diabetes. In most cases, it is difficult to tract the symptoms of the causes of diabetes such as above-average blood sugar from foods and insulin from pancreas. That is the reason why diabetes just unfolds when the symptoms become malignant. Well, that is one basis of having early preventive measures to diabetes.

In the case of people with pre-diabetes problem such as insulin resistance, much awareness is required so as to disclose the unseen dangers of diabetes. Pre-diabetes is the stage before Type 2 diabetes. Pre-diabetes is the above normal supply of glucose but not yet high enough to be called as “diabetes”. On the other side, some women with diabetes background are not yet aware when to take nutritious foods and when to perform regular exercises where in fact, by eating nutritious foods and executing regular exercises, these women are going the distance away from these life threatening diseases.

It is also quoted by Audrey Sheppard, the chief executive of the National Women’s Health Resource Center, that women still pay little attention to the threats and the preventive measures of diabetes.

It is scientifically proven that women develop extra fats over the waistline when they reach the menopause stage. A warning must be personally recognized when a woman’s waistline exceeds 34 inches as based on the experts’ study. As added information, men are advised to maintain 40 inches around their waistline.

Further studies, such as those of Dr. David Katz, also state that when vital organs, such as the liver, was covered with fat, the insulin cannot function properly, thus, exposing these organs to insulin resistance. Dr. Katz is one of the pioneers of the Yale Prevention Research Center.

When the immune system is not working properly, the blood pressure, sugar, and fat are getting higher. As a consequence, their cells are becoming insulin-resistant. And when it happens, diabetes will damaged your health. Dr. Katz also stated that lots of American oldies and children are becoming vulnerable to obesity as a symptom of diabetes.

Furthermore, women who were once pregnant or gave birth to a 9-pound baby or heavier and at the same time infected with diabetes, are in danger of insulin resistance.

Some people say that if you are always experiencing fatigue and you are seeking for more food, then that makes you prone to insulin resistance. But that is not what has been said by one of the epidemiology experts of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention named Dr. Henry Kahn. In spite and despite of the risks of diabetes, it is still curable and can be avoided. However, ladies’ spare tire sometimes hides the risks of potential diabetes. To find clarification and solution on this matter, a healthy lifestyle is strongly recommended. How? It isn’t a burden on your part but beneficial to take a healthy and balanced diet. How difficult is it to eat nutritious food? It is not that difficult to eat nutritious food nor is it costly to have exercise. If you don’t love the spare tires around your waist, then do these suggestions. They really work.

Mind you: Preventing diabetes is better than curing diabetes.

By Kum Martin

The way the urine looks or smells can give a person an indication whether all is alright with his or her health. Healthy and normal urine is either clear in color or pale yellow, and it does not have an odor. However, what about when the urine is bubbly and foaming? Does that mean there is something wrong with the person and he or she could be suffering from diabetes?

Based on several studies carried out, it is not necessary that bubbly urine is a sign of diabetes. However, this kind of urine tends to increase the chances of a person being diagnosed with diabetes. So, bubbly urine could be due to diabetes, but it not necessary to conclude that a person is suffering from diabetes just because he or she passes bubbly and foamy urine as there are many causes for bubble formation in the urine.

Some of the causes for passing bubbly urine are listed below:

Dehydration is one of the most common causes. When a person does not drink sufficient amounts of water, the body is unable to produce normal amounts of urine. This causes bubbles to form and hence the resultant urine, which is dark colored, will contain bubbles.

Controlling the urge to urinate often leads to bubbles forming in the urine when the urine is passed. This occurs when the urine is eliminated from the bladder with force after a person delays visiting the rest room.

Urinary tract infections are common causes of bubbles forming in the urine. However, along with the bubbles, the person will also experience pain and/or burning sensation while passing urine. These infections are best treated after consulting a specialist to avoid complications.

Proteinuria is one more cause for bubble formation in the urine. When the protein levels in the urine are higher than normal, it is known as proteinuria. This condition occurs when the glomeruli suffer from inflammation or damage and hence, they cannot filter out the protein. The high protein content urine reacts with the air on being passed out and this reaction causes bubbles to form.

Hence, noticing bubbles in the urine could be a sign of many health-related conditions and not just diabetes. If you are worried, it is best to consult a doctor and get the relevant tests done. The doctor would be the best person to inform you whether you are suffering from diabetes. A simple fasting blood sugar test should allow a doctor to diagnose whether you are diabetic or not.

Diabetes has hidden dangers that begin before diagnosis and continue to worsen if certain steps are not taken to prevent the complications that are the true, “killers” in terms of diabetes.
Statistics show that there are around 18 million diabetics in America, both Type 1 and Type 2. It is amazing how many people, diabetics included, who have no idea what dangers a diabetic faces over their lifetime. A diabetic, all things being equal, lives almost 10 years less than their non-diabetic counterpart on average.

Why do diabetics life shorter life spans than non-diabetics?
The answer is both simple and complicated. Simple in explaining in general terms, complicated in the medical sense. Diabetics live shorter lives than non-diabetics because of diabetic complications.

What Are Diabetic Complications?
Diabetic complications are chronic medical conditions that begin to affect the body of the diabetic. These complications are brought about mostly by a condition the medical community had named, “Advanced Glycation End products” which is simply, “excess sugar” saturating the inside of the cells of the body. This condition also called AGE for short includes coronary artery disease, vascular disease, blindness, kidney disease, retinopathy (blindness) and loss of feeling in the hands and the feet (peripheral neuropathy) among others.

Diabetes in the early stages does not produce symptoms. Unless found during a routine medical exam, it is possible for a diabetic to remain undiagnosed for years. It is during these years that the beginnings of diabetic complications can gain a foothold due excess sugar in the cells (AGE).

Are Diabetic Complications A Certainty?
While the current consensus is that the formula for diabetic complications Diabetes + Time = Complications. What this means is there is a much higher potential of a diabetic becoming diagnosed with one or more diabetic complications over time. This is partly due to how well the individual monitors and controls his/her blood sugar.

Drastic rises and falls of blood sugar can be hard on the body and the excess sugar present in the cells create havoc on the different nerves within the body as well as the capillaries, veins, and arteries. The evidence to date show that excellent control of blood sugar and an active lifestyle goes a very long way in preventing and/or slowing down the onset of diabetic complications.

The Different Types Of Diabetes
There are two types of diabetes - Type One and Type Two. Type One attacks children and young adults and is characterized by the pancreas failing to produce insulin which is a hormone that breaks down sugars and starches while converting them into energy. Around 10 percent of diabetics are Type One while the other 90 percent are Type Two. The major difference between the two being that Type One diabetics are completely dependent on insulin and take daily injections while the Type Two’s have both those who require insulin shots while others can rely on oral medication and/or changes in diet and exercise.

The Risk Factors Surrounding Diabetes
There are several risk factors that can push a pre-diabetic into full blown diabetes.
1) being overweight.
2) family history of diabetes,
3) lack of adequate exercise.
4) history of gestational diabetes (occurs during pregnancy and usually disappears after delivery).
5) certain ethnic groups

People over 45 years of age and has one or several of the risk factors mentioned above should be screened for diabetes each year, preferably during an annual medical exam. It has been shown that people with these risk factors comprise the majority of diagnosed cases of diabetes each year.

What Tests Help Diagnose Diabetes Cases?
1) Fasting Plasma Glucose Test
2) Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
Both of these tests can determine glucose intolerance which is where blood sugar is higher than what is considered normal.

Can The Onset Of Diabetes Be Prevented?
People with the above risk factors can go a long way toward preventing the development of full-blown diabetes by making significant lifestyle change.

What are lifestyle changes?
Changing unhealthy diets to more blood sugar friendly ones, doing enough exercise to help offset increased blood sugar levels and keep the body healthy and losing weight especially if considered obese by the medical community.

If you are pre-diabetic you need to stay on a strict diabetic diet. Eat small, nutritious meals and eat 5 times a day instead of only three.
If you are already diagnosed with full-blown diabetes, you should follow the same diet while under the meticulous care of your healthcare professional. Keep your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar within proper limits and have your eyes checked every year.
Diabetes can contribute to blindness, kidney disease and heart disease.

What Can The Diabetic Look Forward To?
Diabetic complications can be prevented or lessened for a longer time period by paying serious attention to lifestyle. A diabetic who eats right, keeps his blood sugar in control and within accepted limits, exercises and gets proper rest can expect to have a quality of life that is much higher in terms of the pain and suffering that diabetic complications brings into the lives of diabetics who do nothing to change their lifestyle.

What begins to occur in the diabetic who starts to develop complications because of uncontrolled blood sugars over time is a life filled with the possibility of becoming an invalid, either blind, an amputee, or suffering renal failure or a heart attack.

The above paints a rather grim picture if lifestyle changes are not adhered to. Research has shown that the diabetic that keeps their blood sugar within acceptable limits and follows a healthy, diabetic lifestyle that has been shown to be effective against diabetic complications stands a much better chance of not developing many of the complications their less than dedicated counterparts do.

There is a new derivative of thiamine (Vitamin B1) available now that is showing great promise in greatly reducing the excess sugar in the cells of the diabetic, the process known as Advanced Glycation Endproducts (AGE).

Is Benfotiamine Effective Against Diabetic Complications?
Benfotiamine is a lipid soluble derivative of thiamine. Japanese researchers developed benfotiamine in the 1950’s and later patented it in the United States in 1962. The chemical name and formula for benfotiamine is: S-benzoylthiamine-O-monophosphate (C19H23N4O6PS). Benfotiamine is unique and was reported by Michael Brownlee, M.D., as showing much promise in preventing nerve and blood-vessel damage in diabetics. Every diagnosed diabetic has been told by his/her healthcare provider that diabetic complications are the true killers in terms of diabetes.

If you are a diabetic or know a diabetic, you may find additional information about benfotiamine and view research that has been recently conducted showing the benefits of preventing diabetic complications by following the link to the website below.

By Robert S. Nelson

Persistently very high blood glucose amounts are an attribute of diabetes mellitus. Eventually, heightened blood glucose levels are going to cause harm to your system that could produce additional complications in the way of various, possibly severe, health problems. So, exactly why is elevated blood glucose harmful to begin with?

Glucose is an essential sugar which in turn is the main fuel for all of your body's cells. The cells depend on it for energy. However, consistently elevated blood glucose levels will often work against the body in these ways:

* By having an excessive amount of sugar inside your blood the pancreas must constantly boost its output of insulin in order to sustain normal glucose levels. Inevitably this task causes damage to the pancreas and so it loses the capability to make insulin.

* Surplus sugar coats and also adheres itself to your red blood cells. As a result of this sugary layer these sticky cells start to interfere with blood flow which in turn causes cholesterol accumulation in the blood vessels.

Given that it is your blood vessels that are affected any portion of one's body is vulnerable considering the fact that blood vessels are all over your body. Compromised blood vessels could cause numerous ramifications including:

* Kidney breakdown

* Cardiac arrest

* Loss of sight

* Neurological damage

* Stroke

* Erectile dysfunction

Exactly what is normal blood glucose levels? To be able to identify high sugar levels you initially need to find out what exactly is deemed normal. Presently, a blood glucose measurement which shows less than 140 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) two or three hours after eating food or one which shows less than 100 mg/dL after fasting is regarded as being in the normal range, though a generally healthy individual typically has sugar levels even below that.

The quantity of glucose inside your blood is usually at its lowest level prior to eating a meal. For the typical individual who doesn't have diabetic issues, glucose levels will most likely range between 70 - 80 mg/dL prior to eating. These amounts can be greater or lower however, as previously mentioned, anything below 100 mg/dL is considered the norm when fasting.

Might blood glucose levels get too low? The blood sugar level with the majority of people hardly ever falls below 60 mg/dL regardless if they've been fasting over an extended period. This is because whenever you fast as well or diet, the pancreas halts production of the hormone insulin and secretes glucagon which in turn causes your liver to secrete stored glucose into your bloodstream. Even so, it is uncommon for blood glucose to fall to a level which is dangerous except when there are some unique health issues or perhaps when diabetes medicine is being used.

Since we now know what normal blood glucose levels are let's focus on exactly what elevated levels happen to be. Glucose levels higher than normal indicates the person might have pre-diabetes or diabetes. Listed below are several unique tests which can identify diabetes:

* Fasting Blood Glucose Exam: This particular test is conducted after an individual has fasted for 8 hours. In the event that their glucose level is above 126 mg/dL following this time the chances are they have diabetes.

* Oral Glucose Tolerance Examination: This test likewise requires going on a fast for 8 hours, then the individual is given a sugary liquid to consume. If blood sugar tests conducted 2 hours later show values greater than 200 then that individual has diabetes.

* Random Blood Glucose Test: Random blood exams indicating glucose levels over 200, together with the individual showing symptoms such as abnormal thirst as well as frequent urination, is believed to have diabetes. One of the two other exams would be needed to verify this finding.

An individual who has elevated blood glucose levels but who don't match up with the above mentioned criteria with regard to diabetes is considered to have pre-diabetes. Ultimately, anyone who has pre-diabetes runs a much greater chance of acquiring diabetes in addition to getting coronary disease. Fortunately by way of exercise and diet you can actually stop pre-diabetes from developing into diabetes.

By maintaining blood glucose levels within the normal range numerous severe medical problems could very well be prevented. This approach, coupled with routine follow-up health care, will enable you to control diabetes as well as enjoy a healthy and productive way of life.